Diane Hill’s husband of 21 years, Jerry Hill, is the executive director of the Christians United Outreach Center in downtown Asheboro.

Since 1994, the nonprofit organization has been reaching out to the needy in the community via a food pantry, short-term financial crisis or medical assistance and more, thanks to a partnership that has included more than 140 churches.

Jerry Hill has led the effort for 20 years.

Diane Hill used to work there.

In its early days, CUOC kept its fledgling programs going by having a monthly "yard sale" of donated items. Hill was one of two volunteers who took care of that big undertaking.

When the group decided to get into the secondhand business in a bigger way by opening a thrift store, she was hired as the manager, a job she kept for several years.

There was a time when the husband-and-wife twosome worked day and night to keep the place running.

"It was a joint effort," she said. "If I wanted Jerry home, I stayed and got the work done so we could go home."

New line of work

Diane Hill does not work at CUOC anymore.

She hasn’t in eight years.

"I love CUOC for what it does to the community," she said, "but I’m not a part of CUOC."

Hill used to be a hairdresser, but now she operates a shop called Back ‘n Time in downtown Asheboro. Her primary business is chair caning repair. She also does some basket-weaving and sells a potpourri of old stuff, things from back in time. The inventory usually includes formerly discarded or worn-out chairs (she calls them "bones") that she has rehabilitated.

Or someone will walk into the shop, look around, and say, "Is this CUOC?"

But the queries are not confined to one place.

"I kind of thought it might be good if I started worshiping at another church where they didn’t know me as ‘Mrs. CUOC’ — and now it’s the same thing," she said. "Jerry’s wife."

The situation can be frustrating.

"I want to be seen, but not as Jerry’s wife and Mrs. CUOC … It’s tough. It is tough. It’s tough to have to follow behind him. I can go to the beauty shop and fill in for the girls that are doing hair. If they go on vacation they’ll call me to come and do hair."

And her introduction at the salon to those who do not know her?

"You know Jerry? This is his wife."

See me

She longs to be seen for who she is and for what she does.

"I just want to be Diane," she said. "I want to be the caner, the Back ‘n Time lady, and, if Jerry happens to be here, he’s just the handyman."

Her dream came true last summer when a friend invited the Hills to a July birthday party. The friend’s birthday is in July; so is Diane’s. There were about 100 guests.

The hostess was "so sweet," Diane said. "She did not introduce Jerry as CUOC … It was a great evening. No one talked CUOC."

Well, one woman who works for a church that does a lot of community outreach made the connection.

But no one else did. Or, if they did, they kept it to themselves.

On that occasion, Diane got her wish.

Her well-known husband was just Jerry and she was Diane.

Just Diane.

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